Gardai from Clondalkin in Co Dublin sealed off an area of the Grand Canal at Park West when the body was found shortly after 2.30pm yesterday. It was removed from the canal about 6.30pm and taken to Tallaght Hospital.

It is understood that the death is not being treated as suspicious at this stage. But gardai will await the results of the post-mortem before determining the status of the investigation.

The body is believed to be that of a 36-year-old man missing since the weekend. Originally from Ballyfermot, he had been living in Kilmainham.

Gardai last night declined to reveal the man's identity until his relatives had been informed.